Matchbook with cover locking means

ABSTRACT

A matchbook includes a base portion carrying removable matches and having a folded portion in which the cover portion is adapted to be inserted to cover the matches in known fashion. The locking means includes a first staple-like member secured to the base portion beneath the folded portion where the edge of the cover lies when it is in locking position, and a second staple-like member secured to the cover and oriented transverse to the first staple-like member so that, when the cover is inserted in the folded portion in locking position over the base portion, the two staple-like members engage each other and lock the cover in place. The cover can be removed by moving it laterally to disengage the two staple-like members.

Bruzzano Nov. 4, 1975 MATCHBOOK WITH COVER LOCKING MEANS Inventor: Gennaro J. Bruzzano, 1225 Douglas Ave., North Brunswick, NJ. 08902 Filed: Feb. 5, 1975 Appl. No.: 547,123

Related US. Application Data Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 453,673, March 22, 1974, abandoned.

US. Cl. 206/104 Int. Cl. A24F 27/12 Field of Search 206/ 104, 106

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1932 Freedman 206/104 2/1943 Warner 206/104 X Primary ExaminerLeonard Summer Attorney, Agent, or FirmRobert A. Green 57 ABSTRACT A matchbook includes, a base portion carrying removable matches and having a folded portion in which the cover portion is adapted to be inserted to cover the matches in known fashion. The locking means includes a first staple-like member secured to the base portion beneath the folded portion where the edge of the cover lies when it is in locking position,.and a second staple-like member secured to the cover and oriented transverse to the first staple-like member so that, when the cover is inserted in the folded portion in locking position over the base portion, the two staple-like members engage each other and lock the cover in place. The cover can be removed by moving it laterally to disengage the two staple-like members.

9 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures US. Patent Nov. 4, 1975 Sheet 2 of2 3,917,057

Fig.7

MO 1' Ii '1" 140/ 60 V w A? 1 F l g. 8

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MATCI'IBOOK WITH COVER LOCKING MEANS CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a Continuation-in-Part of application Ser. No. 453,673, filed Mar. 22, 1974, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There is a need for rendering the conventional matchbook safer by making the matches less accessible to very small children, while maintaining the same relative economic attractiveness of such matchbooks. Arrangements are known in the prior art for locking a matchbook cover in place; however, none of these arrangements is as effective or inexpensive to provide as that described and claimed herein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly, the invention comprises providing interlocking metal members, one on the base portion of a matchbook and one on the movable cover portion thereof, the members engaging each other and being locked together when the cover is in place in the matchbook.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a conventional matchbook;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of portions of the matchbook of FIG. 1 showing the locking means of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the match matrix of the matchbook showing a portion of the locking means of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a front end view of the cover of the matchbook showing another portion of the locking means of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the match matrix and the cover showing the locking means of the invention in operation;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the locking means of the invention in locking position;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of a modification of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view along the lines 8-8 in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a side view ofjust the locking means of FIG. 7 with portions broken away shown locked together; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 9 with a portion of one of the elements broken away.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A conventional matchbook 10 is made up of a strip of relatively stiff paper or cardboard formed to include a base portion 20, with one end of the strip folded over to form a folded wall 30 which overlies one edge of the base portion. The strip also includes a cover 60 which comprises an extension of the base portion and is pivotable about the edge 62 thereof remote from the folded wall and is adapted to have its free edge 64 inserted under the folded wall, as is well known. A matrix of matches 40, made up of several layers of paper out to 6 engages the folded wall 30, the match matrix 40, and the base portion.

According to the invention, the matchbook 10 is provided with means for locking the cover 60 in place, and this means comprises a first metal member 90, such as a staple, having its two legs A and 90B disposed above the upper surface 42 of the match matrix 40 facing the folded wall 30 (FIGS. 2 and 3). The first staple 90 is preferably oriented parallel to the long axis of the base portion 20 and match matrix 40 and generally aligned with the direction in which the cover 60 moves when it is inserted and removed from its position between the match matrix and the folded wall. The locking means also includes a second metal member 100, such as a staple, secured to the cover 60 adjacent to the free, leading edge 64 thereof and disposed transverse to the first staple 90, with its two legs A and 100B adjacent to the lower surface 66 of the cover (FIGS. 2 and 4) so that they, in effect, face the two legs 90A and 90B of the first staple. The legs 90A and 90B, or at least one, is spaced a small distance above the surface of matrix 40, and the legs 100A and 100B, or at least one, is spaced a small distance beneath the surface of cover 60 for a purpose to be described below.

The two staples 90 and 100 are so positioned that, in operation of the matchbook and its locking means, when the cover 60 is inserted between the folded wall 30 and the match matrix 40, one leg of one staple engages and locks in with one leg of the other staple (FIGS. 5 and 6). This provides a locking means which cannot be opened by a relatively small child. When it is desired to open the cover to remove a match, the user need only push the cover laterally to disengage the two staples and permit the cover to be opened.

A modification of the invention, shown in FIGS. 7-10, uses a staple in the cover 60 which is reversed from staple 100 in matchbook l0 and has its legs disposed adjacent to the top surface of the cover and its continuous, connecting rod-like portion beneath the cover, so that it can engage a leg 140 of the lower staple. The upper staple is disposed transverse to the direction in which the cover is moved and the lower staple is disposed transverse to the upper staple. The portion 120 of the upper staple may have a depression at about its center to receive the staple leg 140, as seen in FIG. 8.

In this embodiment of the invention, the cover 60 is unlocked merely by being pushed forwardly and raised to free it from the lower staple. Thus, the cover cannot be disengaged by lateral movement alone, a feature which adds to the safety of the matchbook.

It is clear that modifications may be made in the specific apparatus described within the scope of the invention, and, in particular, it is to be noted that the locking means may be placed at any suitable location along the width of the matchbook. Although staples are convenient devices to use for the locking means described above, since only one leg of each takes part in performing the locking function, a staple or similar device having only one leg may be used.

What is claimed is:

l. A matchbook comprising a sheet having a base portion and a flexible cover adapted to be folded over said base portion, said cover having a lower surface,

a matrix of matches disposed on said base portion and secured thereto, said matrix having a top surface,

a first locking member secured to said matrix and including a leg positioned adjacent to said top surface of said matrix facing said bottom surface of said cover, and

a second locking member secured to said cover and including a leg positioned below and adjacent to said bottom surface of said cover facing said matrix, said legs, of said first and second locking mem-' bers being oriented at an angle to each other so that, when said cover is set in place over said matrix, said legs engage each other and lock said cover in place.

2. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second locking members are disposed at 90 to each other.

3. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said first member includes two spaced-apart rods, and said second member includes two spaced-apart rods, one rod of said first member engaging over one rod of said sec ond member when said cover is set in place over said base and said matrix of matches.

4. A matchbook comprising a sheet having one edge folded on itself to form a wall and a base portion, a portion of said sheet forming a flexible cover adapted to be folded over said base portion and insertable between said wall and said base portion, said cover having a lower surface,

a matrix of matches disposed on said base portion and secured thereto, said matrix having a top surface,

a first staple-like locking member secured to said matrix and including first and second legs positioned adjacent to said top surface of said matrix facing said bottom surface of said cover, and

a second staple-like locking member secured to said cover and including first and second legs positioned adjacent to said bottom surface of said cover facing said matrix, said legs of said first and second locking members being oriented at an angle to each other so that, when said cover is inserted between said wall and said matrix, one leg of said first member engages one leg of said second member and locks said cover in place.

5. A matchbook comprising a sheet having a base portion and a flexible cover adapted to be folded over said base portion, said cover having a lower surface,

a matrix of matches disposed on said base portion and secured thereto, said matrix having a top surface,

a first locking member secured to said matrix and positioned adjacent to said top surface of said matrix facing said bottom surface of said cover, said first locking member comprising two coaxial spacedapart rods, and

a second locking member secured to said cover and positioned adjacent to said bottom surface of said cover facing said matrix, said second locking member comprising two coaxial spaced-apart rods,

said rods of said first and second locking members being oriented at an angle to each other so that, when said cover is set in place over said matrix, a rod of said second member engages under a rod of said first locking member to lock said cover :in

place.

6. A matchbook comprising a sheethaving a base portion and a flexible cover adapted to be folded over said base portion and moved in a predetermined direction to cover said.

base portion, said cover having a lower surface, a matrix of matches disposed on said base portion and secured thereto, said matrix having a top surface, i

a first rod-like locking member secured to said matrix and spaced above and positioned adjacent to said top surface of said matrix facing said bottom surface of said cover, said first rod-like member extending in said direction and having a free end dis posed above said matrix, and a second rod-like locking member secured to said cover, oriented transverse to said direction and to.

said first member, and positioned below and adjacent to said bottom surface of said cover facing said matrix, said second rod-like member being 7 adapted to slip under the free end of said first rodlike member whereby said members engage each other when said cover is moved in said direction.

and is set in place over said matrix. 7. A matchbook comprising a sheet having a base portion, including a lower end i and an upper end, and a flexible cover secured to top surface of said matrix facing said bottom sur-' face of said cover, said first rod like member ex-. tending in said direction toward said lower end of said base portion and having a free end facing said lower end of said base portion, and

a second rod-like locking member secured to said 1 cover, oriented transverse to said direction and to said first member, and positioned below and adjacent to said bottom surface of said cover facing said matrix, said second rod-like member being adapted to slip over said free end of said first rodlike member whereby said members engage each other when said cover is moved in said direction and is set in place over said matrix.

8. The apparatus defined in claim 7 wherein said first.

member is a staple comprising two legs and a rod-like connecting portion and having its two legs extending through said cover and its connecting portion disposed beneath said cover, and

said second member is a staple comprising two legs and a connecting portion and secured to said-matrix with its legs extending through said matrix and disposed adjacent to the top surface of said matrix, with one leg bent over into contact with the top surface of said matrix and the other leg bent over and disposed above the top surface of said matrix and accessible to engage said connecting portion of the staple comprising said first member. 9. The apparatus defined in claim 7 wherein said rodlike connecting portion of the staple comprising said first member, has a depression at about its center in which said other leg of the staple comprising said second member, can seat when said first and second members are locked together. 

1. A matchbook comprising a sheet having a base portion and a flexible cover adapted to be folded over said base portion, said cover having a lower surface, a matrix of matches disposed on said base portion and secured thereto, said matrix having a top surface, a first locking member secured to said matrix and including a leg positioned adjacent to said top surface of said matrix facing said bottom surface of said cover, and a second locking member secured to said cover and including a leg positioned below and adjacent to said bottom surface of said cover facing said matrix, said legs of said first and second locking members being oriented at an angle to each other so that, when said cover is set in place over said matrix, said legs engage each other and lock said cover in place.
 2. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second locking members are disposed at 90* to each other.
 3. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said first member includes two spaced-apart rods, and said second member includes two spaced-apart rods, one rod of said first member engaging over one rod of said second member when said cover is set in place over said base and said matrix of matches.
 4. A matchbook comprising a sheet having one edge folded on itself to form a wall and a base portion, a portion of said sheet forming a flexible cover adapted to be folded over said base portion and insertable between said wall and said base portion, said cover having a lower surface, a matrix of matches disposed on said base portion and secured thereto, said matrix having a top surface, a first staple-like locking member secured to said matrix and including first and second legs positioned adjacent to said top surface of said matrix facing said bottom surface of said cover, and a second staple-like locking member secured to said cover and including first and second legs positioned adjacent to said bottom surface of said cover facing said matrix, said legs of said first and second locking members being oriented at an angle to each other so that, when said cover is inserted between said wall and said matrix, one leg of said first member engages one leg of said second member and locks said cover in place.
 5. A matchbook comprising a sheet having a base portion and a flexible cover adapted to be folded over said base portion, said cover having a lower surface, a matrix of matches disposed on said base portion and secured thereto, said matrix having a top surface, a first locking member secured to said matrix and positioned adjacent to said top surface of said matrix facing said bottom surface of said cover, said first locking member comprising two coaxial spaced-apart rods, and a second locking member secured to said cover and positioned adjacent to said bottom surface of said cover facing said matrix, said second locking member comprising two coaxial spaced-apart rods, said rods of said first and second locking members being oriented at an angle to each other so that, when said cover is set in place over said matrix, a rod of said second member engages under a rod of said first locking member to lock said cover in place.
 6. A matchbook comprising a sheet having a base portion and a flexible cover adapted to be folded over said base portion and moved in a predetermined direction to cover said base portion, said cover having a lower surface, a matrix of matches disposed on said base portion and secured thereto, said matrix having a top surface, a first rod-like locking member secured to said matrix and spaced above and positioned adjacent to said top surface of said matrix facing said bottom surface of said cover, said first rod-like member extending in said direction and having a free end disposed above said matrix, and a second rod-like locking member secured to said cover, oriented transverse to said direction and to said first member, and positioned below and adjacent to said bottom surface of said cover facing said matrix, said second rod-like member being adapted to slip under the free end of said first rod-like member whereby said members engage each other when said cover is moved in said direction and is set in place over said matrix.
 7. A matchbook comprising a sheet having a base portion, including a lower end and an upper end, and a flexible cover secured to the upper end of said base portion, and adapted to be folded over said base portion and moved in a predetermined direction toward the lower end thereof to cover said base portion, said cover having a lower surface, a matrix of matches disposed on said base portion and secured thereto, said matrix having a top surface, a first rod-like locking member secured to said matrix and spaced above and positioned adjacent to said top surface of said matrix facing said bottom surface of said cover, said first rod-like member extending in said direction toward said lower end of said base portion and having a free end facing said lower end of said base portion, and a second rod-like locking member secured to said cover, oriented transverse to said direction and to said first member, and positioned below and adjacent to said bottom surface of said cover facing said matrix, said second rod-like member being adapted to slip over said free end of said first rod-like member whereby said members engage each other when said cover is moved in said direction and is set in place over said matrix.
 8. The apparatus defined in claim 7 wherein said first member is a staple comprising two legs and a rod-like connecting portion and having its two legs extending through said cover and its connecting portion disposed beneath said cover, and said second member is a staple comprising two legs and a connecting portion and secured to said matrix with its legs extending through said matrix and disposed adjacent to the top surface of said matrix, with one leg bent over into contact with the top surface of said matrix and the other leg bent over and disposed above the top surface of said matrix and accessible to engage said connecting portion of the staple comprising said first member.
 9. The apparatus defined in claim 7 wherein said rod-like connecting portion of the staple comprising said first member, has a depression at about its center in which said other leg of the staple comprising said second member, can seat when said first and second members are locked together. 